Micah 2

Woe to Oppressors

1 Woe to those who plan wickedness, who lie awake at night plotting evil. When morning comes, they carry it out because they have the power to do it.

2 They covet fields and take them, houses and seize them. They cheat a man out of his home, a person out of his inheritance.

3 So this is what the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this family, and you will not be able to pull your necks out of it. You will not walk around proud anymore, because it will be a time of trouble.

4 In that day people will make fun of you and sing a sad song about you, saying, ‘We are completely ruined. My people’s land is divided up. He takes it from me and gives our fields to traitors.’

5 So you will have nobody left in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot.”

False Prophets

6 “Do not preach?” they preach. “Do not preach about these things. Shame will not catch up with us.”

7 Should it be said, house of Jacob, that the Spirit of the LORD is impatient, Are these His actions, Do not My words do good to the one who walks upright,

8 But lately My people rise up like an enemy. You strip the robe from peaceful people just passing through, people who want nothing to do with war.

9 You drive the women of My people out of their pleasant homes. You take My blessing away from their children forever.

10 Get up and go, because this is not your place of rest, because it is defiled and ruined beyond repair.

11 If a man comes preaching lies, saying, ‘I will preach to you about wine and strong drink,’ that is the kind of prophet these people want.

Promise of Restoration

12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob. I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture. The place will be noisy with people.

13 The one who breaks open the way goes up before them. They break through the gate and go out. Their king goes before them, the LORD at their head.”